in the course of his duties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the course of his duties" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to actions or responsibilities that someone undertakes as part of their job or role. Example: "The employee was recognized for his outstanding performance in the course of his duties."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

IN THE course of his duties, the home secretary wears many different hats.

The Economist

He obtained confidential information in the course of his duties and leaked it for financial gain.

The Guardian

He said Dr. Mahmood had been operating a nongovernmental organization and in the course of his duties had traveled to Afghanistan.

The New York Times

Mr. Staffieri can be fired without severance only if he commits "repeated willful misconduct" or a felony in the course of his duties.

The New York Times

In the course of his duties, Murmelstein had to answer to Adolf Eichmann, and among the satisfactions of the film is the scalding verbal portrait that he draws of Eichmann, whose rabidity was equalled by his bent for corruption.

The New Yorker

In the course of his duties, Johann meets Anne Mary Margaret O'Haraa), a Canadian woman who has come to Vienna to sit at the bedside of a cousin who is in a coma at a local hospital.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Foster, in the course of his duty, appealed to the people's love of liberty in meeting the demands placed upon them.

Wikipedia

FOR half a century, no member of a French government had ever been tried for crimes committed in the course of his ministerial duties.

The Economist

Does it matter whether the remarks are made in the course of his official duties?

Huffington Post

In the course of her duties, she manipulated animals in traps and mist nets, performed dissections, collected blood and tissues, and visited caves with large bat populations.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Police officers routinely arrest suspects in the course of their duties.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the course of his duties" to clearly indicate that an action or event occurred as a direct result of someone performing their job or responsibilities. This helps avoid ambiguity and provides context.

Common error

Avoid using "in the course of his duties" when the action is only loosely related to the person's job. Ensure the action is a direct and necessary part of their responsibilities, not merely incidental.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the course of his duties" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to specify the circumstances under which an action occurred. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Wiki

23%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in the course of his duties" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that functions as a prepositional modifier, clarifying that an action occurred as part of someone's job. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usefulness. While not extremely common, it appears frequently in news, media, and formal contexts. Alternatives include "while performing his duties" and "as part of his job". When using the phrase, ensure that the action is directly and necessarily related to the person's responsibilities to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

While performing his duties

Focuses on the action of performing the duties, similar in meaning.

During his work responsibilities

Replaces "duties" with "work responsibilities" for a slightly different emphasis.

As part of his job

Simplifies the phrase to a more direct expression.

In the execution of his responsibilities

Uses more formal language to convey the same meaning.

While engaged in his official tasks

Highlights the official nature of the tasks.

In his capacity as an employee

Focuses on the role of the individual as an employee.

As he carried out his obligations

Emphasizes the obligatory nature of the actions.

When fulfilling his role

Highlights the fulfillment of a specific role.

In connection with his professional role

More formal and emphasizes the professional aspect.

As a function of his position

Focuses on the position held and its inherent functions.

FAQs

What does "in the course of his duties" mean?

It means that something happens as a normal or expected part of someone's job or responsibilities.

How can I use "in the course of his duties" in a sentence?

You might say, "The police officer encountered the suspect "in the course of his duties" while patrolling the neighborhood".

What are some alternatives to "in the course of his duties"?

You can use alternatives like "while performing his duties", "as part of his job", or "during his work responsibilities".

Is it correct to say "during his duties" instead of "in the course of his duties"?

While "during his duties" is understandable, ""in the course of his duties"" is more precise and commonly used, especially in formal contexts.